We hear news that due to the economic downturn, music and art are being cut out of school programs. What a contrast to a previous time when the U.S. was mired in difficult economic times.
It came me as I toured an exhibit of WPA-created art. The WPA (Works Progress Administration) was started by President Franklin Roosevelt during the Depression to construct U.S. infrastructure and put Americans back to work. The workers not only built roads and bridges, but also such well-known buildings as the Griffith Park Observatory in Los Angeles and Timberline Lodge in Oregon.
About now you may be wondering what that have to do with the topic of art. As it happens,George Biddle, friend of Roosevelt, realized how artists, musicians and writers were struggling. He convinced the president to create art, theater and music projects under WPA. (The visual arts included painters, sculptors, muralists, and photographers.)
Some of these artists taught art classes in schools and local community centers.
Some of the muralists and sculptors generated work for apprentices. All of the artists were allowed to explore their own art - unless it was a public commission.The list of artists who survived and grew includes such well-known names as Jackson Pollock, Mark Rothko, Willem deKooning, Diego Rivera, Thomas Hart Benton, and Grant Wood. In total, there were over 5,000 artist who were funded through WPA.
Thinking about it, I wonder how many school children were shaped by this demonstration of the importance of art/music in the world. I also wonder what happened to that commitment. What do you think?
